STONE WALL SLIDE PROGRAM AND WORKSHOP: June 13-14, 2008
On Friday Ken Ely of Ken Ely's Good Neighbor Walls will present a slide program on stone wall building techniques and safety for the workshop participants from 6-9 pm at the Stoll Bldg in Wysox. Interested public are also welcome. On Saturday beginning at 10 am at French Azilum, Ken will facilitate a hands-on workshop. Special admission prices for workshop particpants, who must make advance reservations at 570 265-3376. Regular summer hours on Saturday from 11-5 for visitors.

FAMILY FUN DAY: July 13, 2008 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Join us for family oriented activities and a performance by the Summer Workshop Acting Troupe. Viewing a film explaining the history of the settlement and guided tours of the historic LaPorte House are included. Refreshments will be on sale or you can pack a picnic and enjoy it at the site. Special admission price of $3.00 for Adults and children are admitted free.


DESCENDANTS DAY August 9, 2008 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Come to visit and meet descendants of the original settlers. The French Azilum Board of Directors invites all descendants and the public to share in this day of reviewing history. The French Asylum United Methodist Church Women will be preparing lunch and advance reservations must be made by calling 570-265-3376.

FALL FINALE October 18, 2008 12:00 -4:00 PM
A group of 18th Century re-enactors will give us a glimpse of what life was like for settlers in the 1790s. Tours of the LaPorte House will be offered. Refreshments for sale. Special admission price of $3.00 for Adults and Children are admitted free.

ANNUAL DINNER: October 23, 2008
Call for details and reservations at 570 265-3376.

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• 1793 French Azilum settled
• 1803 Azilum abandoned by all but a few of the original French settlers.
• 1836 LaPorte residence built
• 1956 John Wittholf and his wife excavated an area behind the LaPorte House and discovered a square, stone-lined feature that he interpreted as a wine cellar. This feature - presently uncovered at French Azilum - is 5' by 5' and is approximately 7' deep. Artifacts found in the cellar included plate and bowl fragments, bone and several wine bottles that dated to the French occupation. This wine cellar would have been associated with a house, which has yet to be found.
• 1976 Steve Warfel and a team of students excavated an area behind the LaPote House to search for La Grande Maison. Although he was unsuccessful in his search for the Queen's house, Warfel did locate a feature, tentatively identified as the residence of a French settler - Cottineau. Located north of the LaPorte House, this residence was a stone foundation approximately 35' by 25'. A stone double chimney (in the shape of an "H") was located in center of the foundation and would have been used to heat and light the residence, Some of the artifacts found in the 1976 excavations included: leather shoes. plate and bowl fragments, forks, knives, and a brass hair ornament that dated from approximately 1790 to 1840.
• 1999 Rob Mann, Diana Loren and Binghamton University's Field School students began excavations in the area just south of the Cottineau foundation. They located the sheet midden, essentially a trash pile, and what is believed to be a collapsed stone feature, probably another stone=lined cellar. because of this feature and other evidence the Field School instructors believe that this residence was that of Madame de Siebert.
• 2000 Excavations were made around the de Siebert foundation with the expectation of finding areas and other outbuildings associated with the large structure that was uncovered in 1976. We know from documents that many of the residences also had other buildings associated with them, such as large summer kitchens and houses for servants and slaves.